HELENSBURGH’S Gordon Reid secured his place as the year-end world number one after making it to the final of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in London.

The reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon and Paralympic champion powered past the previous number one Stephane Houdet in Saturday’s semi-final at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Reid seized the early advantage, serving and returning well to take the first set 6-2 within 40 minutes. Reid was relentless and cruised into a 4-0 lead in the second before, clinching the match 6-2, 6-1, reaching his first Masters final and securing the number one ranking.

Reid is the third Scot to top this year’s year-end tennis ranking, joining Andy and Jamie Murray, the brothers top the singles and doubles rankings.

In Sunday’s final, the 25-year-old faced defending champion Joachim Gerard with the Belgian coming from behind to retain his title in a thrilling three set contest, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

It was Gerard who took the first game on Reid’s serve but the Scot found his rhythm and went up 2-1 with powerful cross court forehands and deft sliced back-hand strokes.

Gerard hit back to take the match to 4-3 but to roars from the home crowd, Reid broke the Belgian’s serve to bring them level at 4-4. Both players looked to gain an edge and it was Reid who looked like he was building momentum as he moved to 5-4.

Moments later, against Gerard’s serve he took the first set 6-4 when the powerful Belgian double-faulted. Reid had yet to drop a set in the tournament and was on course for the title.

After several breaks of serve, Gerard managed to nose 5-4 ahead in the second set. A delightful sliced backhand by Gerard gave him set point but Reid took the next two points before Gerard served to take the second set 6-4.

The Belgian asserted his authority in the third set racing into a 4-0 lead. But Reid dug deep and fought back to 5-4, asking the question of Gerard but he held his nerve and served out for the win.

Reid said: “Yesterday [in the semi-final] I had that nervous energy but today I wasn’t in that mind-set. I started well, from a scoreline perspective, but really I wasn’t serving or returning as well as I have in the other matches.

“I feel frustrated... but being year-end world number one is a brilliant feeling”